RICHARD LANCASTER SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN CHIGWELL AND ESSEX

In a shocking case that has spanned decades, Richard Lancaster, a man with ties to Chigwell, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of serious sexual offenses committed against a teenage boy. The disturbing revelations came to light during a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court in Essex, where Lancaster, aged 60, was found guilty of 12 counts related to sexual assault and abuse. The court proceedings concluded last Monday, resulting in Lancaster receiving a ten-year prison sentence and an order to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

One of the most poignant aspects of this case is the victim’s story, Dave Gipps, now 53, who bravely came forward to recount the long history of abuse he endured at the hands of Lancaster. Gipps revealed that the abuse began when he was just 13 years old and continued for five years, until he was nearly 18. He described Lancaster as a close family friend who was well-liked in their community, partly because of his motorbike riding and his habit of taking children from their street for rides around Chigwell, Essex. Gipps explained, “He had a big motorbike, we all love motorbikes and as kids we used to play football on the street, so that’s how we met.”

Gipps recounted that he initially turned to Lancaster, then 20, as a trusted older friend during a difficult period when his parents were going through a divorce. Lancaster would often take him on rides around Chigwell on his motorbike, showering him with gifts and affection, which Gipps now recognizes as grooming behavior. “I thought I’d be sad when I looked at those pictures from my wedding day,” Gipps said, “but actually I’m happy now because I know he’s behind bars and can’t hurt anyone else.”

The abuse, Gipps revealed, was ongoing and happened multiple times a week. Lancaster would take him into private spaces, including bedrooms, where he would commit acts of sexual assault while Gipps’ parents were unaware of what was happening. The trauma inflicted by Lancaster left deep scars; Gipps described how he spiraled into depression and, at just 14, attempted to take his own life by slashing his wrists in Lancaster’s bathroom. “I think it was a cry for help,” Gipps admitted, “but I was too terrified to tell anyone. It was like I had two lives, one with him and one apart.”

By the time Gipps was about to turn 18 in 1980, the abuse ceased. He later reflected that he did not understand at the time that what Lancaster was doing was wrong, as he saw Lancaster as a father figure and trusted him implicitly. “Looking back, I can see I was very messed up,” Gipps said. That same year, Gipps met his future wife, Christine, at her sister’s 21st birthday party, and they quickly fell in love. Despite the dark history, Gipps did not initially disclose the abuse to Christine, as he believed Lancaster was a genuine friend who had done a lot for him.

In their wedding photos, Lancaster was present, standing alongside Gipps and Christine, a stark reminder of the past that Gipps now views with a mixture of relief and anger. The couple’s relationship grew stronger over the years, and they eventually had their first daughter, Leah. The bond was so resilient that they even invited Lancaster as a guest to their wedding, unaware of the full extent of his crimes at the time. Gipps explained, “Richard was still a friend who had done a lot for me, and I never thought I shouldn’t invite him.”

After their wedding, Gipps and Christine’s lives moved forward, and they had more children. Lancaster, who was married at the time and later divorced, had his own family with three children. It was not until 2007, nearly three decades after the abuse began, that Gipps realized he had been a victim of a serious sex crime. Sitting in his black cab at Heathrow Airport, Gipps experienced a moment of clarity, recognizing the extent of his past trauma. “I was just thinking there, taking stock of my life when I realized I’d been brainwashed into never admitting that I’d been abused,” he said.

Gipps eventually confided in his wife and daughters, who were shocked by the revelation. “When I told Christine and the girls, they were so shocked that they just broke into tears,” Gipps recalled. The emotional toll was immense; he described how he spent months struggling with guilt and self-hatred, feeling as though he had been manipulated into accepting the abuse as normal. Despite the pain, Gipps decided to report Lancaster to the police in 2010. However, it was not until 2015 that sufficient evidence was gathered to proceed with prosecution.

Throughout the trial, Lancaster denied all allegations, but the evidence presented was compelling enough for the court to convict him on multiple counts. He was found guilty of nine counts of indecent assault on a male, two counts of buggery, and one count of gross indecency involving a boy under 16. As part of his sentence, Lancaster was ordered to serve ten years in prison and to remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Gipps expressed a sense of justice finally being served after such a long ordeal. “I feel like I’ve finally got justice after 40 years since this all began,” he said. “Richard ruined my childhood with that horror, and it’s affected my adult life too. Now I can finally move on.” Gipps also hopes that sharing his story will help other potential victims come forward. “I want everyone to know him, to know what he’s been like,” he stated. “There may be other victims out there, and I want them to know it’s okay to come forward.”

Christine Gipps, equally relieved, expressed her happiness with the outcome. “We’re over the moon, justice has been served. It’s been hard, but we got through,” she said. The couple, who celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary last month, are now looking forward to putting this painful chapter behind them. Gipps concluded, “I don’t blame anyone for what happened to me except vile Lancaster. He may have robbed me of my childhood, but he won’t take my future.”